So Long Seattle

The adventures of the week finally caught up with us. We were definitely dragging come Sunday morning. Seattle beckoned, but rather than cram so much into our day like we did in Portland, we decided to pick a few choice events and truly enjoy them.

Where else to start one's experience in Seattle than at the Pike Place Market. Wow! This place is amazing. I think I could have watched the mongers throw fish for hours. They are quite the entertainers. The colors and smells were so tantalizing, and everywhere I looked, there was some commotion to take in. One could feast for weeks here. I think I was most impressed with the efficiency of the booth workers, recognizing the amount of effort that goes into their smoothly-running operations. Each vendor is like a well-oiled machine as they cater to each customer. It was honestly hard to make our meal selections, as there was so much to try and enjoy. By day's end, we partook in fresh crab, locks and bagels, crepes, and organic Washington cherries. The locks and bagels were stunningly delicious. You sort of wanted to wrap your mouth around the entire bagel all at once, yet let everything sit on your tongue forever. It took great self-control not to scarf it down in two bites. We spent quite a bit of our morning here. I loved watching the entire operation ebb and flow. It was exhilarating!

There was no way we could visit Seattle and not stop in to the original Starbucks for Phill. I think I could actually feel his giddiness. I loved the old wooden floors and countertops inside, and wished they all had the same rustic feel. One tall Pike roast and I had a happy husband.

The Space Needle came next. Up, up we went. We were hopeful to see Mt. Rainier, but with the low cloud cover today, it just wasn't going to happen. We made our circle out on the observation deck, but the cold winds pushed us back inside the tower. I still can't get over these temperatures in July!

We always love to experience a city by walking it. This time we trekked toward Kerry Park, said to have some of the best views of the Seattle city skyline. 15 blocks, and a calf-burning hill later, we were not disappointed. I think I could have stayed up here all day. The view was great!

Since I'm not the regular Starbucks patron, and because I would rather support local, we made a separate coffee stop for me at this charming neighborhood find. There. We both delighted in our cups-o-joe in Seattle.

Our final activity of the day proved to be one of the most favorite things we did on the entire trip (that's saying a lot!) We took the Underground Tour. For those of you who don't know it, Seattle actually started one story below the current street level. The tour is actually based on William Speidel's book, Sons of the Profits. It is a fascinating story of how the businesses down there came to be and how the roads were built up around them...literally. And also how a certain type of scandalous business venture, also known as the "sewing circle", sprung from having too many beautiful women looking for work and an entire city full of lonely loggers, miners, millworkers and businessmen. But I won't spoil it for those who may take the tour someday. We learned an amazing amount of history about Seattle and some of its most prominent leaders at the time. If you're ever in Seattle, take the tour. Trust me.

Just like that, it was time to return the car and head for the airport. I'm typing this on our redeye back to BWI. When we left Seattle, it was 58 degrees and raining...very fitting for the end of our journey. I know as I bake in the 90s tomorrow back in Virginia, I'll be wondering why Phill and I haven't relocated sooner.

Thus we come to the end of our journey. It has been the most phenomenal, spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime adventure. We never could have imagined the scenes our eyes would feast upon these last 5,800 miles. We are so thankful for Phill's job, which has allowed us the time and resources to complete such a dream. Two oceans, four national parks, two national monuments, seven major cities, and countless scenic byways and state forests later, I'm having trouble finding the words to summarize our journey. I suppose that's why I decided to blog our trip. Even from the beginning, I knew one overall synopsis would fail miserably short of describing this exhilarating journey. As I read back over each of my entries, it's hard for me to wrap my head around all that we've accomplished in three weeks. I'm eight states closer to completing my goal of seeing all 50 before I turn 30. I now only have six to go! We each are immensely richer for our exposure to the histories and cultures we experienced along the way. As if we didn't know it already, this trip has only helped to confirm that we are indeed travelers. We take great joy in seeing new places and soaking up all that each has to offer. This is probably a good thing, as we now have a never-ending list of places we'd like to return to spend more time. If you asked me my favorite location of all, I would be left speechless. I can't name just one, as each has its own unique flavor. We do know that the west beckons our hearts. I learned this several years ago when I briefly lived in California, but this trip has only confirmed it. There is something about the larger tracts of uncivilized land, the prominent cedar smell in higher elevations, the mountains, and even the more rustic towns that make my heart flutter. The west is indeed a magical place for me.

I want to thank each of you for staying interested and reading the blog. I never thought I would be a "blogger", and admittedly, I'm not sure I'll make this a regular practice. However, I have truly enjoyed describing our experiences and making my lame jokes here and there. Thank you for enduring those!

Our next big adventure begins in September when we move to Texas. No, I do not intend to blog about that...at least not yet, anyways. Thanks again for your support! Hugs and warm (okay, maybe cool) wishes to you all!

Love,
Laura

Portland in a Pinch (Part II)

We must have still been buzzed on the endorphins we experienced from the previous night's sushi, because we woke up Saturday morning in a flurry to see as much of the city as we possibly could.

We started at Voodoo donuts. If ever there was a place that captured the kooky essence of Portland, this has to be it. Their namesake donut is shaped like a voodoo doll and oozes red raspberry jelly, but they have other crazy options like oreo sprinkles and bacon toppings. A self-defined connoisseur of donuts, this place definitely got the top award for most unique. And the taste? Phill believes his Portland Creme kicked Boston's keister, and my voodoo doll was to die for (no pun intended...okay...maybe a little)

We took time to stop and smell the roses...at the International Rose Test Garden, that is. Nearly a century ago, a farsighted citizen convinced the local government to set up a rose test garden during World War I to preserve the species of European roses that might be decimated by the bombings. Thus, in 1917, the International Rose Test Garden was born, and lives on as the oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States. They have over 7,000 species, organized into various areas including the Royal garden and the Gold Medal garden. I even got to see the oldest rose in the country, the Grand Duchess Armstrong, planted by the Duchess herself.

I cannot think of a more perfect morning. I strolled. I smelled. I was giddy with delight. I'm not even that huge of a rose fan, but any morning spent in a garden is a great start to the day. The number and variety of species was stunning. And to think that only one gardener and two groundskeepers, along with volunteers, maintain this little piece of heaven.

And yes, there was no way I could visit the garden without bringing home a specimen for myself. I will be the lady on the plane stuffing her precious rose plant under the seat in front of her. Given that this is the flower my plant will produce, I feel highly justified in purchasing one.

Bon Voyage, Little Toyota (Part I)

Where do I begin with this post? The last 36 hours have been a blur, but a most vibrant blur at that. I guess it's a good thing we require little sleep, as we are both rather ambitious sightseers. Let's start in chronological order.

We left Lewisville, Idaho, yesterday morning, deciding to take back roads for the better half of eastern Washington. We took Route 12 (still the Lewis and Clark trail) to Route 261 to Route 26. It was incredible to see the amount of crop farmland, coupled with wind farms. At many points, wind turbines stretched as far as the eye could see. We also noted the number of irrigation systems dotting the landscape. Empathetic to the drought situation plaguing 37 states right now, it spawned a great conversation about water conservation. To further illustrate the issue, we passed a small brush fire on our way.

After driving for hours without civilization in sight, Phill got very excited when he saw the sign for Starbuck. Not exactly what he had in mind.

It was 85 degrees in Lewisville when we left (at 7:30 am). As we gained altitude, the clouds rolled in, the moisture in the air increased, and the temperature plummeted. At one point I looked down to notice the car thermometer read 55. It's hard for me to accept that degree change in July!

Our first stop in Seattle was to drop the Toyota off at the shipping company and wish her farewell for her maiden voyage. The car will be loaded onto a semi which will deliver her to the ship on Monday morning. She sets sail on Tuesday. She's been a great little car for us...probably enduring more dirt roads and mountain climbs than ever imagined. It felt good to turn over the keys, knowing that Kati is going to benefit greatly from finally having her own car back in Alaska.

With our mission of delivering the car in one piece accomplished, we actually felt a little deflated. We sat in the parking lot of the shipping company for awhile, reminiscing over all the miles and memories. But now what? As we sat in our new Chevy Malibu rental car, the trip took on a foreign feel. Our escort these last 5,000 miles had now left us.

Well, all this commiserating lasted about 10 minutes. We had two great states to see and 48 hours to do it in. Here we go!

First on the list: DINNER! And boy did we find a gem of a place in Tacoma. I've decided I will stuff myself silly with seafood until that plane takes off on Sunday night. Skeptical at first when we drove up, my suspicions were quickly laid to rest at this amazing sushi place. We decided on the "all you can eat" option, thinking we'd get to try a number of their intriguing rolls. Never have I seen such big rolls in my life (and I've eaten a LOT of sushi), nor tasted ones that were so delicious. We didn't even make it through three whole rolls.

With stomachs stuffed, Phill wanted to take a trip down memory lane. We drove over to McChord Air Force Base, where his family was stationed when he was in the first and second grades. We saw his old house and his old elementary school. He pointed out the principal's office, recounting the number of visits he made there. This was the playground where he and Bryce flipped Lori's skirt to reveal her yellow polka dotted underwear. Yes, my husband was quite mischievous in his younger years. He could remember all the neighborhood trees that he used to climb, as well as his favorite fishing hole where he, his brother, and his dad spent a lot of time. It was neat to sit beside him as we drove and he recounted all the memories.

From there, we hopped on the interstate and dashed towards Portland. Crazy, I know. But we were so close. And in retrospect, we're glad we did. We fell in love with Portland...